show

to bring or put in sight or view; cause or allow to appear or be seen; make visible; exhibit; display

to enter (animals, flowers, etc.) in a competitive show

to exhibit (paintings, sculpture, etc.), as in a gallery

to guide; conduct: to show a guest to a room

to direct to another's attention; point out: to show the sights to visitors

to reveal, manifest, or make evident (an emotion, condition, quality, etc.) by behavior or outward sign

to exhibit or manifest (oneself or itself) in a given character, condition, etc.: to show oneself to be reliable

to open (a house, apartment, etc.) to prospective buyers or renters

to make evident by logical procedure; explain or prove: to show that something is right

to make clear by going through a procedure; demonstrate: to show how to tie a bowknot

to register; indicate: a clock shows the time

to grant or bestow (favor, kindness, mercy, etc.)

Law to allege; plead: to show cause

Origin of show

Middle English schewen ; from Old English sceawian, akin to German schauen, to look at ; from Indo-European base an unverified form (s)keu-, to notice, heed from source Classical Latin cavere, to beware, Old English hieran, to hear

intransitive verb

to be or become seen or visible; appear

to be apparent or noticeable: a scratch that hardly shows

to be visibly pregnant: five months pregnant and still not showing

to have a given appearance; appear: to show to good effect

☆ to finish third or better in a horse race or dog race

Informal to come or arrive as expected; make an appearance

Theater to give a performance; appear

noun

a showing, demonstration, or manifestation: a show of passion

a display or appearance, specif. a colorful or striking one

spectacular, pompous display; ostentation

an indication of the presence of metal, coal, oil, etc. in the earth; trace

something false or superficial; semblance; pretense: sorrow that was mere show

a person or thing looked upon as peculiar, ridiculous, laughable, etc.; spectacle; sight

a public display or exhibition, as of art, animals, flowers, automobiles, etc.

a presentation of entertainment, as a theatrical production, TV program, film, etc.

☆ third position at the finish of a horse race or dog race

Informal any undertaking, matter, or affair

adjective

of or having to do with a show ( or ), specif. a Broadway or Hollywood musical: a medley of show tunes

show Idioms

for show

in order to attract notice or attention

good show!

Chiefly Brit. an exclamation of appreciation and congratulations on another's accomplishment

show

b. To display for sale, in exhibition, or in competition: showed her most recent paintings.

c. To permit access to (a house, for example) when offering for sale or rent.

To conduct; guide: showed them to the table.

To direct one's attention to; point out: showed them the city's historical sites.

a. To make evident or reveal (an emotion or condition, for example): showed displeasure at his remark; a carpet that shows wear.

b. To reveal (oneself) as in one's behavior or condition: The old boat showed itself to be seaworthy.

c. To indicate; register: The altimeter showed that the plane was descending.

a. To demonstrate by reasoning or procedure: showed that the hypothesis was wrong; a film that showed how to tune a piano.

b. To demonstrate to by reasoning or procedure; inform or prove to: showed him how to fix the camera; showed her that it could really happen.

To grant; bestow: showed no mercy to the traitors.

verb

, intransitive

To be or become visible or evident: Concern showed in his face.

Slang To make an appearance; show up: didn't show for her appointment.

a. To be exhibited publicly: What's showing at the movie theater tonight?

b. To give a performance or present an exhibition: Which artist is showing in the gallery?

Sports To finish third or better in a horserace or dog race.

noun

A display; a manifestation: made a show of strength.

a. A trace or indication, as of oil in a well.

b. The discharge of bloody mucus from the vagina indicating the start of labor.

c. The first discharge of blood in menstruation.

A false appearance; a pretense: only a show of kindness.

a. A striking appearance or display; a spectacle.

b. A pompous or ostentatious display.

Display or outward appearance: This antique tea service is just for show. His smile was for show.

a. A public exhibition or entertainment.

b. An exposition for the display or demonstration of commercial products: an auto show.

c. A usually competitive exhibition of domestic animals: won first place at the cat show.

a. A radio or television program.

b. A movie.

c. A theatrical troupe or company.

Informal An affair or undertaking: ran the whole show.

Sports Third place at the finish, as in a horserace.

Phrasal Verbs: show off To display or behave in an ostentatious or conspicuous way. show up To be clearly visible. To put in an appearance; arrive: Don't show up late. To expose or reveal the true character or nature of: showed their efforts up as a waste of time.Informal To surpass, as in ability or intelligence: She shows up all the others in the chorus.

Origin of show

Middle English sheuen, shouen, from Old English scēawian, to look at, display.

Words near show in the dictionary

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Ask a deeply religious Christian if he’d rather live next to a bearded Muslim that may or may not be plotting a terror attack, or an atheist that may or may not show him how to set up a wireless network in his house. On the scale of prejudice, atheists don’t seem so bad lately. Scott Adams